EFICIENȚA SUPLIMENTELOR ALIMENTARE CU CAROTENOIZI ÎN REDUCEREA RISCULUI DE AFECȚIUNI OCULARE: CORELAȚII BIOCHIMICE ȘI IMPACTUL ASUPRA POLITICILOR DE SĂNĂTATE

CONTEXT: Degenerative ocular diseases, such as age-relatedmacular degeneration and senile cataract, affect millions of individualsworldwide. In the absence of effective curative pharmacological interventions atearly stages, preventive approaches acquire strategic relevance in medicalpractice. Within this context, ocular-tropic carotenoids – lutein, zeaxanthin, andmeso-zeaxanthin – have been identified as key biomolecules in retinal protection,acting through synergistic antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and blue light filteringmechanisms.METHODS: A systematic and critical review of the specialised literature wasperformed, exploring publications from the past 10 years indexed in majordatabases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, MDPI, and NCBI. Included were randomisedclinical trials, meta-analyses, and fundamental biochemical investigationsevaluating the effects of carotenoid supplementation on macular pigment opticaldensity (MPOD). Concurrently, data from international public health guidelineswere integrated to enable a transdisciplinary approach.RESULTS: Nutritional supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin wasassociated with significant increases in MPOD and improvements in visualfunction parameters. Findings from the AREDS and AREDS2 studiesdemonstrated a reduction in the risk of progression from intermediate to advancedstages by approximately 25%. At the molecular level, carotenoids reduce oxidativestress, modulate inflammatory pathways (including inhibition of NF-κB and IL-6), and contribute to retinal function stability. From a public health perspective,these interventions exhibit a favourable cost-effectiveness profile and can beincorporated into primary and secondary prevention strategies, particularly in thegeriatric population with increased nutritional vulnerability.CONCLUSION: In an epidemiological context marked by a rising incidenceof degenerative ocular diseases, carotenoids emerge as agents with scientificallydocumented potential and demonstrated efficacy both clinically andbiochemically. Their integration into public health strategies may contribute toreducing the visual and economic burden associated with chronic ocular diseasesagainst the backdrop of demographic ageing.